• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday joined his colleagues in the Senate in supporting the creation of Negros Island Region, following its approval in the House of Representatives.
Gatchalian, who attended the World Teacher’s Day celebration on October 5 in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, however stressed that while he supports NIR, there is the need for a thorough study on it to ensure that its infrastructures are in place.
If there is no infrastructure, Gatchalian said the people will still have to go to Iloilo.
“Ayaw natin nagawa na ang region, walang kasunod na infrastructures. So tatawid pa yong tao [sa dagat] (we don’t want to create a region without the corresponding infrastructure. People will have the cross [the sea]), for administrative matters,” the senator stressed.
But in principle, I agree because, it will be a hassle to go to regional centers in Iloilo
The three governors of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor recently held a meeting in meeting in Metro Manila, facilitated by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and attended by Senator Juan Victor Ejercito and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo.
According to Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, the meeting went well and there was a “meeting of the minds” to support NIR.
During the meeting, Lacson said they agreed to maintain the same regional offices that was already assigned in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental during the short-lived initial existence of NIR.
Senate President Zubiri earlier expressed his confidence that the Senate will approve NIR before the year ends.
The Senate committee on Local Government is currently deliberating the proposed NIR bill.*
